The first gold went to Dutch shotput star Melissa Boekelman after the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships kicked off in Beijing today. CRI sports reporter Sun Yang tells us more.

Melissa Boekelman tastes her gold medal (Photo source: xinhua)

CRI Special: 11th IAAF World Junior Championships

Dutch teenager Melissa Boekelman outshone more experienced competitors, winning the women's shot put in her first attempt in Beijing.

The 17-year-old became the Netherlands' champion in both the indoor and outdoor championships earlier this year.

She made a 17.66 meters put after having qualified for the evening's final with a 16.47m mark in the morning.

The Dutch girl was excited about the result.

"It's incredible. I did not expect it. Sorry, I can't explain it, but it really feels great. I'm really happy."

The Chinese host team's Liu Yingpan and Li Li, both 19 years old, finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Liu, who has a personal best of 18.7 meters, said it was a pity not to win a medal at home.

"I feel woeful for failing to win the medal on home soil. It's far from what I expected. I have injuries on my waist, knees and also on the wrist, which hindered my performance."

The first day of competition also witnessed the birth of a new world junior record.

Estonia's Margus Hunt set a new mark in the men's discuss throw. The 19-year-old threw his disc 66.35 meters in his first attempt in the group qualification, beating record of 65.88m set by Egypt's Omar El-Ghazaly in 2003.

The Games competitions will be in full swing tomorrow, when six gold medals in the hammer throw, long jump, discus, 100 meters and 10,000 meters will be decided.

Sun Yang, CRI news.